Mother of Cleveland kidnapping suspect cries, begs forgiveness

Thursday, May 09, 2013 - 01:41

May 9 - Ariel Castro's mother says ''I have a sick son who has committed something very grave...May those young ladies forgive me,'' hours after her son was arraigned on charges of kidnapping and rape. Deborah Gembara reports.

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A mother's anguish.
Lillian Rodriguez, the mother of suspected Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro spoke to reporters outside her home.
SOUNDBITE: Lillian Rodriguez, Ariel Castro's mother saying (Spanish):
'I'll tell you. I have a sick son who has committed something very grave. I'm suffering very much. I ask forgiveness to those mothers, may those young ladies forgive me. I suffer because they suffered. I'm suffering over my son's pain. My son is sick and I have nothing to do with what my son did."
Her grief was in stark contrast to the relief of newly freed Gina DeJesus's mother (hugging a neighbor)
Nancy Ruiz told reporters that her daughter spent her first night at home catching up with family and eating Puerto Rican food.
DeJesus and two other women were rescued earlier this week from a home belonging to Ariel Castro.
His attorney, public defender Kathleen DeMetz had this update about her client.
SOUNDBITE: Ariel Castro's attorney, public defender Kathleen DeMetz saying:
"He was up on the sixth floor medical unit in our city jail but he will be transferred to the county now. Whenever there's a sensitive case such as this or a case of a sexual nature or there's any risk or any reason to put them in protective custody, that's where they are held."
Castro is charged with seven felonies, including four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape.